Entry No. 48 — the Durango file — filed under: speakeasy
The Tunnel Supper Club
You descend through a trap door after whispering a password pulled from that week's classifieds in Telluride's *The Daily Planet* — then you're sitting with eleven strangers at a candlelit five-course tasting menu paired with cocktails and wine. The Tunnel has run this prohibition theater since 2018, and the ritual is the point: there's no sign, no walk-ins, and no password, no entry. Reservations open through OpenTable but the weekly code is yours to hunt down.
The story
Most high-end dining in Telluride announces itself with polished glass and valet stands. 700 West Colorado Avenue does the exact opposite: there is no sign, no host, and no walk-in line. Since 2018, The Tunnel Supper Club has operated out of plain sight, enforcing a strict speakeasy ritual where knowing the address is only half the battle.
To gain entry, you have to do something almost unheard of in modern dining—you read the local paper. Every week, a secret password is tucked inside the classifieds section of Telluride's *The Daily Planet* (or posted to their Facebook page if you're pulling up code on a screen). You show up, give your knock, whisper the phrase, and descend down a trap door into the basement space.
Inside, you're not getting a secluded booth. The entire room holds just twelve seats around a candlelit setting, with a single seating taking place at 7:30 PM sharp. You sit shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers for a five-course tasting menu paired with wine and cocktails. The password rule isn't a gimmick they relax if you look well-dressed—if you don't have the code from that week's paper, you stay on the sidewalk.
What it's like
Target 7:25 PM on West Colorado Avenue, because there's no lobby to wait in and no sign on the building—just numbers on the exterior. Knock on the door, whisper the classifieds phrase to whoever answers, and step through the trap door into the candlelit vault below. With only twelve spots at the table, you'll be sharing a single 7:30 PM seating across five courses with drinks included. Book well ahead via OpenTable, grab street parking along Colorado Avenue, and verify you have the week's password written down before you walk up.
The move: Spend the afternoon skiing or hiking, track down *The Daily Planet* for that week's password, then show up at 700 West Colorado Avenue at 7:30 PM and knock.
📍 Before you go Reservations required; password published weekly in The Daily Planet classifieds (also posted on their Facebook page). Single seating nightly at 7:30 PM, 12 seats total. Street parking on West Colorado Avenue. The entrance has no exterior signage — look for the address only.
- 📍 Telluride
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 700 West Colorado Avenue, Telluride, CO 81435
Hours: Added 2026-06-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Wood Ear Whiskey Lounge & Noodle Bar — Continue your subterranean evening by heading half a mile down Colorado Avenue to a basement lounge anchored by an 1880s hand-carved walnut bar.
- Telluride Free Box — Balance out an exclusive twelve-seat tasting menu by hunting through Telluride's famous street-side exchange six blocks down.
- Lone Tree Cemetery — Wander among the 1880s pioneer headstones at 9,000 feet before heading back down into town to track down the paper's weekly code.
Good to know
How do I find the weekly password?
Track down the print classifieds in that week's issue of Telluride's *The Daily Planet*, or check the venue's Facebook page where it gets posted.
Can I walk in or show up late?
No. There are strictly no walk-ins, and there is only a single seating per night at 7:30 PM for twelve guests max. You must book in advance on OpenTable.
What should I look for on the street?
There is no restaurant sign. Look solely for the street numbers at 700 West Colorado Avenue.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · afar.com · telluride.com · wanderlog.com · Reddit · oneillstetinagroup.com
last checked: 2026-06-21